Barbara

About Barbara

Published in Forward on November 14, 2017 ANAT HOFFMAN I was forced to spend 24 hours with a five-year-old who isn’t family. I explained the rules of the house several times during his stay, and every time I did, he’d sourly ask: “What will you do to me if I don’t?” I get the same sense of insolence from Israeli officials when we discuss the effect of the cancellation of the cancellation of the Kotel (Western Wall) Agreement on World Jewry are discussed. “What will they do to us?” Israelis, who are typically blunt, direct and proud, tend to [...]

Dear Friends, I have recently completed a visit to Australia, where I had the opportunity and pleasure to meet members of the Progressive Jewish community. I had the privilege of sharing with them all of the wonderful developments and challenges going on in the Israel movement, and hear from them about the important work that they are doing in their local communities. My visit to Australia came just after we marked Diaspora-Israel Day, a new holiday held on the 7th of Cheshvan, celebrating the special bond between Jewish people around the world, so the timing of my visit [...]

Israeli Reform rabbi keeps a daughter in the family businessFledgling Rabbi Leora Ezrachi-Vered has big shoes to fill as a female spiritual leader of an Israeli congregation -- her mother, Rabbi Naamah Kelman's Article from the Times of Israel by RENEE GHERT-ZAND 15 November 2017, 2:06 pm Leora Ezrachi-Vered (Avi Nave) When Leora Ezrachi-Vered attended a Reform Jewish preschool in Jerusalem some 30 years ago, she played blocks with the other children. They built a “synagogue,” and Ezrachi-Vered declared she would be its rabbi. It was a bold statement: At the time there were no female Reform rabbis in Israel. [...]

Today IRAC and the IMPJ organized a joint service at the Kotel for the Board of Governors and the students of the Hebrew Union College. We expected to be able to enter the Western Wall Complex with our Torah Scrolls. Instead we were greeted with contempt and violence. Upon approaching the gate Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the President of the Reform Movement in America, and our very own Anat Hoffman were shouted at by a guard who blocked our entry and tried everything within his power to humiliate us. He even threatened us by shoving mace in our faces. Despite [...]

Netanyahu Tells U.S. Jews He Remains Committed to Egalitarian Prayer Space at Western Wall Speaking via video link to the Jewish Federations' General Assembly, prime minister says all Jews should be able to pray at the Kotel; says Israel offered humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Iran Uri Blau and Jonathan Lis (Los Angeles) Nov 15, 2017 12:46 AM LOS ANGELES - In his address to attendees of the Jewish Federations' General Assembly on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was fully committed to the establishment of an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, and revealed [...]